Community service at Leper Colony
Community service plays a crucial role in fostering empathy, compassion, and social responsibility among school students. A significant initiative was undertaken by students of DPS Srinagar where a group of 20 students visited Kashmir’s leper colony on July 22nd, which is tucked away on the outskirts of Srinagar, to engage in community service to foster a sense of responsibility and commitment to community service among the participating students. The purpose of the visit was to contribute positively to the lives of the residents, dispel misconceptions about leprosy, and promote inclusivity and understanding within the community.
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a chronic infectious disease that affects the skin, nerves, and respiratory tract. Historically, leprosy has been associated with stigmatization and social exclusion due to misconceptions surrounding the disease. To combat the stigma and promote awareness, students of DPS Srinagar organized the community service program that involved students visiting a local leper colony.
The primary objectives of the school students’ visit to the leper colony were to provide assistance and support to the residents of the leper colony and to raise awareness among students about leprosy, its causes, symptoms, and treatment. With this visit the students challenged stereotypes and broke down barriers of social stigma associated with leprosy. It encouraged empathy, understanding, and sensitivity towards individuals living with leprosy.
Prior to the visit, extensive preparations were made by the students that included educating the students about leprosy and conducting awareness sessions for crowd funding to raise daily-needed items among students for about 90 families situated there. During their visit, the students interacted with the community heads of Leprosy Association enquiring about the day to day needs of the families and situation about the medical needs of the patients.
Local people were overwhelmed with their generosity, “We believe that alone we can only do a little, but if all of us truly pitch in together, our influence can be mighty. All of it seemed very worth it to crack open the notion in our heads that there was nothing we could do to make a difference for a people whose lives were so devastatingly difficult”, said one of the accompanying students.
